[Structure of the alveolar wall in obstructive pulmonary atelectasis in children]

The results of light and electron microscopy and morphometric studies of the alveolar wall in obstructive atelectasis in children with chronic nonspecific lung diseases (materials of 40 biopsies) are presented. Morphological changes in obstructive atelectases of various durations are described. Fresh atelectasis was shown to be characterized mostly by discirculatory and dystrophic changes. In atelectasis of a long duration, inflammatory reactions developed and, besides, regeneration-proliferation processes were activated which in children were manifested mainly by an increase in the number of large alveolar cells and, to a lesser extent, some increase in sclerotic changes. The release of osmiophilic lamellated corpuscules of large alveolar cells was disturbed, which was one of the factors conducive to the lack of a surfactant.